David Mitchell is the go-to funnyman of the moment. When he is not starring in Channel 4's critically acclaimed Peep Show or his own BBC2 sketch show, That Mitchell and Webb Look, he is appearing on a panel game, cropping up on the radio, or writing a newspaper column (he is a regular contributor to the Guardian and Observer).

While his Peep Show co-star Robert Webb was winning hearts – and viewers' votes – on BBC1's Let's Dance for Comic Relief, Mitchell has been busy conquering the world. Especially the bits that enjoy panel game humour: he makes frequent appearances on BBC1 with QI, Have I Got News For You, Mock The Week and as a team captain on Would I Lie To You?; and also on Radio 4's Just A Minute, I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue and The Unbelievable Truth, which he chairs.

Mitchell's A-list status was confirmed this year when he won best comedy performance at the Bafta TV awards for his role in Peep Show, which has become one of Channel 4's most enduring hits, despite not achieving the audience its critical acclaim suggests it deserves.

Written by Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, a seventh series was commissioned even before the sixth had gone to air and it has also been commissioned for a pilot in the US.

The Peep Show co-stars broke out of the sitcom confines for their own BBC2 sketch show, That Mitchell and Webb Look, which grew out of their long-running Radio 4 series, That Mitchell and Webb Sound, and made their big screen debut in Magicians. Mitchell is also being lined up for yet another BBC panel show, The Bubble, from producer Jimmy Mulville.

"He is a growing presence across all media," said our panel. "And a well-deserved Bafta winner."

After meeting at Cambridge University and performing in the Footlights comedy review together, Mitchell and Webb took their act to the Edinburgh festival and broke into TV writing for shows such as The 11 O'Clock Show and Armstrong and Miller for Channel 4, and Channel Five's Jack Docherty Show.

"The hardest step is breaking in," said Mitchell. "I would have faced rejection for a lot longer than I did before giving up. Had I still not got where I am now, 10 years on, I'm not entirely sure I would have given up yet."

Such is the pair's appeal, you can almost forgive them for agreeing to appear in an advertising campaign for Apple intended to be kooky, but which ended up irritating. Mitchell was also the voice of "Pablo the drug mule dog" for a £1m government TV campaign against the dangers of cocaine.

Mitchell said he does share some of the traits of his Peep Show character, Mark, including his horror of anything new. "Novelty should at least be questioned," he told the Guardian. "The fact that the dross on YouTube may kill off established channels does not make it a good thing simply because it's new."

Although if you can't beat them, join them: Mitchell also has his own weekly online show, David Mitchell's Soap Box.